[q url="http://www.playfuls.com/news_003307_Ice_Age_2040_The_Meltdown_of_the_North_Pole.html"]Previous positive predictions about the ozone-layer recovery by 2040 have now received a serious coup: a new study suggests that by 2040 there will be no ice left for polar bears.
Already considered among the most endangered species of animals in the world, the polar bears are again threatened by the conclusions of a new study, published in scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters on Tuesday, which indicates that the Arctic pole will not be a barren desert of ice by this century’s half, but a warm ocean.
The North Pole is already significantly warmer than the South Pole because it lies at sea-level in the middle of an ocean (which acts as a reservoir of heat), rather than at altitude in a continental land mass.
Winter (January) temperatures at the North Pole can range from about −43°C (−45ºF) to −26°C (−15°F), perhaps averaging around −34°C (−30ºF). Summer temperatures (June, July and August) average around freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
The sea ice at the North Pole is typically around two or three meters thick, though occasionally the movement of floes exposes clear water. Some studies have indicated that the average ice thickness has decreased in recent years due to global warming.
sourceI'm also starting to worry about this, since our winter was not cold at all until yesterday. I'm starting to feel winter, but this was not the case last week or before, when we had a great summer-end sunny weather.
Tags: pole | journal | Coup | South Pole | research | North Pole | meltdown | GEOPHYSICAL | Arctic
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